Santa Ynez River

A Land Trust project to repair eroded portions of the Santa Ynez River provides improved water quality and habitat that benefits both public and wildlife alike. The project was supported by a $264,605 grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and assistance from California Conservation Corps, National Resource Conservation Service and NOAA Fisheries funds. Working with private ranches and the California Conservation Corps, the project stabilized 1,600-feet of river bank to reduce soil erosion that was damaging to downstream water quality and rearing habitat for native Southern steelhead.Restoring the riverside also involved the planting of 2,000 native trees and scattering native seed on the repaired banks. The trees and plants now act as a buffer to the agricultural field, reduce run-off, and increase shade over the river. In the long-term, the improved water flow and increased shade cover in this reach of the river will be beneficial to native migratory fish and local residents.